If a commitment of some sort has not been obtained by the end of April, Denel will withdraw its bid to supply the locally-designed and manufactured Rooivalk attack helicopter to Turkey.

That country is now evaluating second bids for a fleet of combat helicopters and an announcement is expected by month-end as to whether or not it will become only the second air force in the world to fly the Rooivalk.

Denel chief executive Shaun Liebenberg said in Centurion yesterday “a massive amount of time, money and manpower” had gone into the Turkish bid, which includes a joint venture to manufacture the Rooivalk there.

He said a lack of a decision by the Turkish defence procurement agency and overruns on the original timeframe saw the local company having to re-submit its bid incurring even more expense.

“It’s now at the stage where we cannot wait. Our contractors and suppliers find themselves in the same position, and if a commitment is not made by the end of April, Denel will no longer be interested,”

With acknowledgement to Kim Helfrich and The Star.